She found more paperwork in kitchen drawers, but it all related to Eileen. She made one last scan, her frustration increasing. When Harry appeared back from a hall at the far end, she had fixed on a cheery duck in yellow welly boots on the windowsill and resisted a sudden urge to knock its beak off.
‘One bedroom and a tiny bathroom. Looks like Kelly has some clothes here still. Bed looks slept in. I think she’s living here for now.’
‘Would make sense. If I was her I wouldn’t go back to my own building.’
‘And the only other place she stayed was Holly’s?’
‘It was. And we know she gave that up a week ago. I got a message from the team. The letting agent said she just turned up with her keys and the place was empty.’ Maddie cast another look around. ‘Poor girl probably doesn’t know what to do with herself.’
‘Is it worth leaving a note asking her to call?’
‘She should have my number. I left it in her pocket for her to find. If I leave a note she will know we were here, then we run the risk of scaring her away. This is just about the only place we have left to look for her.’
‘You don’t think the nosey neighbour over the hall will pass on news of our visit the instant she returns?’
‘Fair point,’ Maddie conceded. ‘Asking her not to would just be wasting our breath. I’ll leave my number again. Maybe she doesn’t check her pockets.’
‘I’ll get a CAD put on with a tasking for regular door knocks from any passing patrol. We need to speak to her — to see her, at least. I want a welfare check done.’
‘Okay . . .’
‘You don’t sound sure?’
‘I just want to be the next officer who speaks to her. A uniform cop turning up here might be the last straw. I think I can get her to talk to me.’
‘You’re certainly the best person for her to see next, but we’ve got little choice. You can’t stay here on the off-chance. The response teams have a much better chance.’
Maddie nodded. She turned over a torn envelope to write on. She checked her work phone for the right time so Kelly would know when she was here. She left it brief, just asked for Kelly to call to let her know she was okay.
Maddie kept her phone in her hand until she was sitting back in the car, then she scrolled through her new emails. She skipped past two from CPS, both labelled Urgent tasking, knowing that it would be another enquiry that would eat into time she didn’t have.
Her thumb stopped at an email from Mitch Evans. She clicked it open.
Maddie,
Regards your email for DPA checks with Airbnb. They’re a typical web-based firm — took me ages to get to speak to an actual person!
I got there in the end. I had to send the standard form — Harry Blaker is authorising. (I’ll let you tell him!)
Please find attached a list of the addresses of Airbnbs that are currently rented. I didn’t know how far to cast the net so I went big. It covers most of the county. Not sure how much this helps. I asked for booking details but they would only provide full names of the lead person for the booking against the full address of the property booked. Without dates of birth or any other information, I’m not sure it’s of much use. I went back to them and they will give me the full details for individual properties, but I get the impression it’ll be one at a time. So you’ll have to let me know if any one booking stands out.
Kind regards,
Mitch.
Maddie clicked to open the attachment. It came up small on her phone, so small that she instantly knew that this was a job for back at the office. It was a simple spreadsheet, listed alphabetically with surname first. There looked to be hundreds. She sighed her dismay. She scrolled down with the faintest of hopes that Rickman would be listed. Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t — nothing even like it. It was a dead end, a fishing trip with no real idea of what she was even hoping to find. She pushed her phone back into her pocket and huffed again.
‘You okay Maddie? I’m hearing a lot of sighing.’
‘Not really. I’m still missing something.’
‘Missing something?’
‘I just can’t shake the feeling that we have everything we need to nail this right in front of our faces.’
‘We’ll head back in and go through all that we know about Kelly Dale. That missing something you’re talking about? It’s her. You’ve been saying it from the start and I think you’re right. We need to find her.’
‘We do. I don’t think she’ll call me just because I left her a note asking her to. I should have just nicked her, Harry . . . I’ve thought about it since someone at that house said that Kelly knew something about Marlie. I could have just brought her in for the murder.’
‘You think that counts as reasonable suspicion?’
‘No. It might have been enough to get her through the door, though. And then we would have had control of her, locked in a room while we ask her questions.’
‘She doesn’t seem keen to be answering questions so far. That could just push her further away.’
Maddie peered out of the window. Her eyes blurred to the passing scenery as they picked up speed. ‘It could. Right now I don’t feel like she could be much further away. She was supposed to come and speak to us, Harry, why hasn’t she?’
‘That’s the missing something.’
Chapter 33
‘I’m impressed with the commitment, Maddie. You’re really getting on with that case file?’ Harry caught her out and she was hasty in her movements to minimise the document on her screen. She didn’t bother to bring up the Harnett case file that she’d assured him she was staying late to work on; she didn’t see the point.
‘Well, I like to keep on top of these things.’ She looked at the clock on her desk phone: nearly 5 p.m. She should have finished at four.
‘Nice of you to get CPS off my back. I appreciate that.’
‘You know me, Harry. I just do what you ask me to.’
‘I do know you. That’s how I know you don’t.’
‘I’m actually not doing much of anything. You caught me staring at a list of names and going back over the same things.’
‘Maybe you should call it a day. You’re not going to make a big impact on anything in that state of mind.’ Maddie couldn’t tell if he was humoured or if his tone carried genuine frustration. ‘We need to be fresh for tomorrow. We might get something back from forensics or the post-mortem. But however much or little we get, we’re going to have to change tack.’
‘Change tack?’
‘I was talking with the boss. We’re swearing out a warrant for the house on London Road. The night duty DC will be tasked with getting it sorted out of hours so it’s ready to go first thing. We have enough to suspect that something in there might link to whoever killed Marlie Towers.’
‘Do we have a formal ID yet?’
‘No, but we’re well beyond reasonable suspicion. It’s her. In any case, I’m hoping the magistrate won’t ask about the finer details. I’ll be sending night duty to go out and knock the door after midnight. I’m thinking a bleary-eyed magistrate just hears the word murder and signs the paperwork to get back to their bed.’
‘We don’t usually get too much resistance out of hours.’ Maddie grinned. ‘I’m seeing a devious side to you, Mr Blaker. Did you mention that bit to the Chief Inspector?’
‘He knows we’re getting the warrant.’
‘Just not how.’
‘I made sure he knows as much as he needs to.’
‘We all do that.’ Maddie smiled. ‘With the next rank up, I mean.’
Harry smiled, too. ‘Don’t I know it.’
In UK law, warrants were granted by magistrates. In office hours this was a formal affair, with three magistrates in courtroom surroundings and a trained legal advisor assisting with any decision. Out of hours and with the timing right it would be a single magistrate hurriedly wrapped in a dressing gown in the small hours of the morning. In this scenario, an argument was a lot less likely.
‘Early start tomorrow, then?’
‘I’ve asked for the tactical team to go through the door at 7 a.m. That should be early enough to guarantee a full house and we’ll have the whole day to talk to whoever they scoop up.’
‘Are they getting arrested?’
‘We’ll ask them to speak to us under caution. Anyone who refuses is putting themselves forward to get arrested. We’ll see what we get.’
‘Assuming there are girls there.’ When Maddie had spent some time in a brothel, only a couple of the rooms had actually been occupied, the rest were for girls coming in from elsewhere to do a shift. There were often good reasons to keep their work away from home: neighbours, children or just a desire to keep the things separate. A brothel gave that separation, as well as security.
‘Nothing we can do about that. That will be part of our questioning to find out who’s missing.’
‘And you think they’ll talk to us?’
Harry shrugged. ‘They had their chance to talk to you on their terms and they didn’t take it. I can’t see any other way. They might be expecting it — maybe even waiting for it to happen so they can talk to us where they know they’ll be safe. You never know your luck.’
‘That would be nice.’
‘So it’ll be an early start. I suggest you give it a rest for today. All this will still be here tomorrow.’
‘That’s what I’m worried about.’ But Maddie knew he was right. She was tired — too tired to make a difference. She had a sudden craving for something hot, bad for her and cooked by someone else.
‘Don’t suppose you fancy a takeaway do you, Harry?’
‘A takeaway?’ He looked a little perplexed.
‘Sure. You know what one of those is, right?’
‘They’re not really my thing. I can’t tonight, anyway, Maddie. Sorry.’
Maddie nodded, even a little relieved. She had blurted it out without thinking. She couldn’t imagine an evening of small talk and hot food with Harry Blaker.
‘Suit yourself!’ She feigned hurt but she could sense his relief too.
* * *
Once the idea of comfort food and a sofa had got into Maddie’s head she couldn’t shake it. Her home was half an hour’s drive away and the daylight was seeming to fade the closer she got to home. She sorted her food order on the way up to her apartment. There were some elements of modern technology she enjoyed and the ability to order and pay for a takeaway using an app on her phone without speaking to a soul was one of them. It suited her tonight more than usual. She now just needed to mumble a thank you in exchange for the delivery and she was done communicating with the world for the night. She had considered calling Rhiannon to see if she wanted to join her but even that thought had been fleeting. She was ready for a night on her own.
She kicked her shoes off and flicked on the kettle. Her phone screen dimmed with confirmation of her order and a thirty-minute wait still showing on her screen. She slid the phone along the work surface, followed by her bag. It hung open a little, enough for her to see the stapled document she had printed off to bring home. It was the list of Airbnb rentals Mitch had sent through. She pulled it out and laid it flat on the table. She had printed it to bring it home without ever really intending on spending any time looking at it. It was just a list of names against addresses. She had run all of the addresses shown in Langthorne through the local intel system and some had people associated with them but, as Harry had pointed out, the likelihood was that anyone hiring out Airbnb accommodation would be from out of the county or even overseas. What she had was potentially just a list of holidaymakers. It was another dead end, printed out in desperation that something might stand out.
And then something did.
Maddie was flicking the pages, almost idly. The list was alphabetical with surname first and the third side of A4 showed a block booking. Five apartments all booked by the same person.
‘Victoria Long?’ Maddie said. The only answer was her kettle clicking off, the steam loitering under her kitchen unit. She picked the sheet up to study the name closer. She reached back for her phone, clearing the screen of her food order to open a new web page. She typed in the first address of five listed as booked by Victoria Long and typed it into Google followed by Airbnb. The top hit was a review from TripAdvisor from a couple of weeks before. She opened the review.
A little sceptical at first. The website shows it as being a few of the university halls available in the summer break before new students go in. I was a student myself and I remember how basic the halls were. Actually they seem to have improved! The room was clean and tidy with (basic) amenities but it’s a decent enough place from which to explore Canterbury. It’s quite a walk to get off the grounds to the nearest bus stop, as the bus doesn’t come through the uni grounds in the summer. That’s reflected in the price and a taxi into town was around £5. Overall a quiet night’s sleep and soooooo much cheaper than the city centre hotels!
And a very clever way for the uni to earn some extra cash I might add!
Chantelle, Weymouth.
University halls. Maddie put the phone back on the bench, her mind racing. She knew the Canterbury campus, the part where the accommodation was, at least. It was on the outskirts of the city and would be deserted this time of the year. The students weren’t due back for a week at least. The review said that a few of the rooms were available. If it was five that would mean Victoria Long had booked every one. Either she was catering for a large party or she was assuring the use of the rooms with no neighbours to be concerned about.
Maddie had already dropped her phone into her pocket and was gathering her shoes back up from where she had flung them. She stopped, her mind suddenly running with doubt. Five student rooms was probably just ten people — a standard-sized hen-do. Perfectly reasonable. But on a Wednesday night? She shook her head and got back to getting her shoes on. Whatever it was, she wasn’t happy to leave it until the morning. The booking was for tonight only.
She bustled out of the flat, pulled her door shut then bumped into a young lad whose yelp could be heard even through his crash helmet.
‘Sorry!’ Drawn by some wonderful smells, she noticed the bag he was carrying with a receipt stapled to the top.
‘This is for in there?’ His voice was muffled as he pointed at her door.
‘Oh, yeah! It said half an hour!’
The boy shrugged. ‘It always says that.’
‘Can you . . . I’ll just . . .’ She snatched it from him. ‘I’ll take it with me!’ She grinned and turned away before he could reply.
When he emerged from her building to get back on his bike she was already in her car waiting for her phone to pair. She watched him. He was still shaking his head — probably for his lack of tip. She felt a pang of guilt; it hadn’t even crossed her mind.
‘Maddie . . . how did I know that it would be you?’ Harry answered the call when it was close to ringing out.
‘Because you saw my name come up on your phone?’ The darkness of the night was almost set in now, enough for her to see the beams of her headlights as she moved out onto Sandgate High Street.
‘Even before that. What do you want, Maddie?’ Harry sounded grumpy. That was perfectly normal, but there was something else.
‘Did I interrupt a workout or something? You sound a little out of breath.’
‘About as much of a workout as I get these days. I took a walk is all. Now, what do you want?’
‘A walk? Are you alone?’
‘What? Yes, I’m alone.’
‘Not even a four-legged friend with you? Maybe one that likes biscuits and was last seen in the police station kennel all alone?’
The hesitation was long enough for Maddie to know the answer already. ‘That was no good for him. Too small. He was due to go to a charity kennel.’
‘You mean the sort where he gets adopted by a nice family?’
‘He’s old, Maddie. Old and set in his ways, those places are for younger dogs, no
one’s going to choose an old dog like him.’
‘And I suppose you can relate to that!’ Maddie chuckled.
‘They don’t get long in those places. There’s a turnaround. He’d sit in a cage for a month and then . . .’
‘Then what Harry?’
‘Then they free up his cage. He was everything to someone once. It’s not his fault he isn’t anymore.’
‘And now he’s everything to you. Why are you being so coy about it? I think it’s great, Harry. You have a wonderful home. You should share it with a wonderful dog.’
‘What did you want, DS Ives?’
‘You only call me that when you’re angry with me.’
‘I’m off duty.’
‘You’re never off duty. And even if you were, I’m heading back in so I thought my boss should know that.’
‘Back in? What for?’
‘Victoria Long.’
There was another pause. ‘Is that a name I should know?’
‘It might help massively if you did. But, no. I took the list of Airbnb bookings home. I don’t know why. I was just glancing through it. Victoria Long has booked out five student flats at Canterbury Uni, the halls they have there. They’re booked out for tonight and I bet that’s all of them that are available.’
‘Okay . . .’
‘That’s odd isn’t it?’
‘Odd? On its own I don’t see it?’
‘Vince . . . He said that he had known sex workers to use Airbnb addresses. It suits their—’
‘I get that, Maddie.’
‘Right . . . so we scared Rickman off from using his own places so maybe he booked out a block of student halls. I know that campus. It’s right out of the way. You wouldn’t be disturbed there.’
‘Is Victoria Long a known sex worker?’
‘That’s what I’m going in to check. Holly’s address book had some names in it. I don’t recall that one, but I want to check again.’
‘Then what?’
‘What do you mean?’
He Knows Your Secrets Page 29